Backstory: Last summer we thought our dog Rigley had developed food allergies. Turns out after a few vet visits to a couple different vets, we all figured out it was some funky virus, but nonetheless the experience provided me with the opportunity to learn about dog food ingredients.
Nowstory: I won’t go into the degradation stories of typical pet foods, but rather I will encourage pet owners to seek a convenient, cost effective, and healthy alternative for God’s creature that He has placed under your care. We currently serve our 7 year old dog Rigley (affectionately referred to as Mr Wiggles by the ladies and Rigs by the men) and our 7 year old cat Samantha (affectionately referred to as Psycho Sammy by anyone that knows her), a pet food called Nature’s Select which is delivered to our front door. Rigs’ Chicken with Gluscosomine cost = $0.86/pound for the dog food; and Sammy’s Feline Mix cost = $1.35/pound for the cat food. That’s the cost delivered to our front door, I love the convenience. Checkout their products on this website with Nature’s Select pet food information.
Local Nature’s Select distributor is Kyle Paseur, phone 256.880.9113
I previously fed Rigs Science Diet, Eukanuba, or Iams. If I caught it on sale, it was roughly the same price at the Nature’s Select, but typical prices for the big three hover around $1.00/pound. So I certainly like the convenience of the Nature’s Select which arrives at our front door, with the added bonus for Rigley that it’s healthier for him than most other dog foods close to the same price.
My personal experience would not trust the “taste test” option to distinguish the healthiest option for your pet. I know I would rather eat double-cheeseburgers all the time rather than munching on collard greens and broccoli. Sammy especially took a few days to transition from her previous Science Diet to the Nature’s Select, but now she chomps away like mad as I’m trying to drift off to sleep at night ; )
Happy eating!
PS. Just because you give your dog a healthy food doesn’t mean you can’t treat him to the McDonald’s special St Patty’s special Shamrock Shake!!
__________________________
Rich Sturmfels
Diesel Does It
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I also think it is
I also think it is worthwhile to research what your pet eats and feed them a healthy food. Today there are many healthy options that are the equivalent price of popular brands but light-years healthier than popular brands. In addition to the food Rich recommended, I would also look into
-Nutro
-Canidae
-Solid Gold
Rich, about the taste-testing: I wouldn’t let my dog choose between a healthy and non-healthy option via a taste test. However, I did make my final choice among 3 very healthy foods (Solid Gold, Canidae, and one other I can’t remember) using a taste test. Any of the three choices would have been acceptable. I have found in my research that animals can often sense what nutrients they need and can show (not necessarily “will show”) a preference for foods containing those nutrients. Among several healthy choices I think it’s acceptable to let the pet choose.
Furthermore, my cat, Bonnie, is a picky eater. She will literally starve herself and snack on the dog’s food in place of a food she doesn’t like. I found this when trying to help rid her of mouth ulcers that may be linked to food allergies. Over a two week trial she noticeably lost weight. It’s important for her to like the taste of her food because she simply won’t eat otherwise. Bonnie chose Solid Gold as a clear favorite. Smokey liked Canidae and Solid Gold equally well, so we went with Solid Gold to keep purchasing easy.
I also like Solid Gold because they employ dedicated nutritionists that you can talk to about your pet’s health.
Arranged to get a few
Arranged to get a few samples of Nature’s Select. Looking foward to seeing if Smokey and Bonnie like it. If so, it’s cheaper than our current pet food and delivered to our door, so that’ll be a welcome change.
Good point on the taste test
Good point on the taste test Jeff. Yeah, as long as the taste trade study has passed the health gate, that does makes good sense to give them an option.
I haven’t seen Nature’s Select price list online but here’s what I had as of a few months ago (man I’m starting to sound like a salesman for these guys…)
FOOD and PRICES for 25 lbs - 50 lbs - 100 lbs
CHICKEN RICE AND LAMB or ULTRA LITE SENIOR $21 - $42 - $76
LAMB AND RICE $22 - $44 - $79.75
CHICKEN RICE GLUCOSAMINE or CHICKEN RICE PUPPY or CHICKEN RICE HIGH
PROTEIN $21.50 - $43 - $78
20 lbs - 40 lbs - 80 lbs
SALMON AND SWEET POTATO $23 - $46 - $85
10 lbs - 20 lbs - 40 lbs
__________________________FELINE PREMIUM $14 - $27 - $50
Rich Sturmfels
Diesel Does It
I should get my samples
I should get my samples today. One thing I’ve been unable to find about them is kcal/cup of food. Is that on any of your information sheets? The web site gives me kcal/lb, but how am I to know lb/cup to compare it to every other pet food in the world (kcal/cup is pretty standard).
I dunno about the kcal/*.
I dunno about the kcal/*. Maybe an email to them or take your samples to your lab and calculate yourself.
__________________________Rich Sturmfels
Diesel Does It
How about you weigh Rigley
How about you weigh Rigley before and after he eats a cup of food, therefore giving me the lb/cup necessary for conversion. Sure, you could just weigh a cup of food, but what fun would that be.
Y’all are cracking me up.
Y’all are cracking me up.
__________________________David Thew
Sojourn Pastor
Thewblog
Jeff: What do your kids
Jeff: What do your kids think of the new food?
__________________________Rich Sturmfels
Diesel Does It
Smokey exhibited some paw
Smokey exhibited some paw licking after the Chicken, Lamb, and Rice formula. As you probably know, this could indicate allergies. However, she enjoyed the taste very much. Later this week I will try the Lamb and Rice formula. Her current food is a lamb and rice mix, so I am hopeful. Bonnie would not eat the one offered formula of feline food.
Yeah sounds like allergies
Yeah sounds like allergies for Smokey, glad you have a food that you know she isn’t allergic to if Nature’s Select fails. I think Sammy took 3 days to eat the feline food, good thing Linda was gone for a few days otherwise she would have caved ; )
__________________________Rich Sturmfels
Diesel Does It
Jeff: I just recieved new
Jeff: I just recieved new bags of doggy and kitty food. Wondering if your kids are sticking to their old diet or if Nature’s Select pulled through for them.
__________________________Rich Sturmfels
Diesel Does It
Rich, Bonnie (cat) was a
Rich, Bonnie (cat) was a no-go. She didn’t like the one brand offered. Smokey developed an allergy around the time of the trial. I thought it was the food at first, but we later found it was something outdoors. I’ll soon be doing a trial with her again since she’s over the outdoor allergy.
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